
MINNESOTA. 



mum w AvmK 

MURRAY COUNTY, SOUTHWESTERN MINNESOTA. 



PUBLISHED BY 



THE CATHOLIC COLGNIZATIOU BUREAU, 

Under the auspices of the Right Rev. John Ireland, 
Coadjutor Bishop op St. Paul. 




ST. PAUL, MINN., DECEMBER, 1880 



/' ' ' THE PIONEER PRESS CO 

1880. 



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CATHOLIC COLONIZATION 




IN MINNESOTA. 

COLONY OF AVOCA, 

MMRAV COONTY, SOOTHWESTERN MINNESOTA. 



Published by the Catholic f oloni2;atiojm ^uf(eau, 

Under the auspices op the Right Rev. John Ikeland, 
Coadjutor Bishop of St. Paul. 



ST. PAUL, MINN., DECEMBER, 1880. 



THE PIONEER PRESS CO. 

1880. 



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CATHOLIC COLONIZATION IN MINNESOTA. 

COLONY OF AVOCA. MURRAY COUNTY. 



The rapid growth and prosperity of our Catholic Colonies in 
Minnesota, more than keeping pace with the healthy growth and 
general prosperity of the State, make it necessary for the Catholic 
Colonization Bureau to continually revise, alter, and supplement 
the information it has already published for the benefit of intending 
irruni grants. We wish to emphasize these words inte^iding immi- 
grants, for we have no desire that those with comfortable, 
respectable homes already, should break up those homes and come 
west, influenced to do so by the truthful information we have 
undertaken the grave responsibility of giving for the benefit of 
the struggling, industrious many, who have no such homes nor 
any prospect of securing them in their present employments and 
locations. 

When persons of ample means, influenced by circumstances 
applicable to individual cases, come to us and take farms in any 
of our colonies, (we have such,) we welcome them, and rejoice 
when they tell us that they are well satisfied with the change; 
but we caution people, rich and poor alike, from making imaginary 
fancy pictures from the facts we lay before them. 

This caution is necessary for our own protection and the pro- 
tection of those placing full confidence in us; and it is to those 
necessary, conscientious, plain cautions which we have given in 
every publication issued by the Bureau, that we attribute the 
gratifying fact, that among the thousands who have come here on 
our invitation, not more than one per cent, returned dissatisfied: 
a most extraordinary fact to those experienced in immigration 
matters. 

We will devote this paper exclusively to the Catholic Colony of 
Avoca, Murray County, southwestern Minnesota. In none of 
Gur colonies have more gratifying changes taken place, nor is 
there elsewhere more cheering evidence of advancement and con- 
tentment. 



4 CATHOLIC COLONIZATION IN MINNESOTA. 

Farther on we will allow the Avoca settlers to speak for them- 
selves. We will give their words taken down as they spoke them 
in the presence of Father Nugent, of Liverpool — whom to name is 
to do one-self honor — in the presence of Mr. James H. Tuke, of 
Hitchin, England, and in the presence of other distinguished 
visitors. All those gentlemen — some of them from Ireland and 
some from England — came to this country and to our colonies to 
judge for themselves as to the progress of the latter, the condition, 
sentiments, and prosperity of the settlers, in order to encourage or 
discourage emigration to Minnesota and to our colonies. 

They frankly intimated to us that they had our side of the story 
already from our published pamphlets, criculars and letters; had 
perfect confidence in our statements so far as they themselves were 
concerned; still before advising others they felt it to be incumbent 
on them to see and hear for themselves. For this we honor them, 
and have given them every assistance to carry out their wishes. 

SOUTHWESTERN MINNESOTA. 

In no other part of the State has the value of land risen more 
rapidly than in the southwestern part, where Avoca Colony is 
situated. The average increase in the price of railroad lands has 
gone up fully two dollars an acre since Bishop Ireland made a 
contract with the railroad company for the lands within the 
present bounds of the colony; and at those increased figures the 
railroad company have found no difficulty in disposing of hundreds 
of thousands of acres this season, to capitalists and settlers. 

The following extracts, taken from an article on Southwestern 
Minnesota, published in 1878, and given in our pamphlet for 1879 
with the remark that allowance should be made for the high coloring 
of the writer, the experience of the last two years has in all 
essentials justified. Here are the extracts. 

" Southwestern Minnesota has made rapid progress in stock 
raising. As capital increases, and the utility and profit of stock 
raising becomes better understood by the farmers, we shall see 
fine flocks and herds, in addition to the fields of waving grain, 
and our rich prairies teeming with the life they can so amply 
sustain. The abundance of clear, sweet water, dry atmosphere, 
its elevation, rich pasturage, freedom from disease, and direct and 
ready access to all the prominent markets, unite to make Min- 
nesota the paradise of stock raisers. Good hay can be put in the 
stack in Southwestern Minnesota for $1.25 per ton. It can be 
secured without other expense than cutting, and with very little 



COLONY OF AVOCA, MUHRAY COUNTY. 5 

labor, enough can be made for the maintenance of a large amount 
of stock. ***** 

" This section has been settled but seven years, yet it is already 
teeming with a population of wide-awake, industrious people, 
whose fields are evidences of the innate wealth of the region. 
The soil of Southwestern Minnesota is adapted to the successful 
cultivation of grain, and so celebrated has ■ its grain-producing 
qualities become, that capitalists have put their money into large 
tracts of land, and have now immense fields under cultivation, 
and their investments have proven extremely profitable. There 
are farms of 600, 1000 and 2000 acres, all producing Minnesota's 
great staple, wheat. Every year, as the success of these invest- 
ments becomes known, new and large farms are opening. * * 

" Southwestern Minnesota is on tlie move, and to those who wish 
to locate in a thriving, driving, pushing, growing country, no 
locality of the green earth promises more faithfully, and none 
will redeem its pledges with greater pride to the wide-awake, 
stirring husbandman. The very soil teems with wealth, and the 
air is laden with the most precious gifts of health." 

AVOCA COLONY. 

In the very heart of the section of country thus described and 
in our judgment, its Very garden, is the Colony of Avoca, in Murray 
County, 165 miles southwest of St. Paul, the capital of the state. 

While the beauty of the location and fertility of the soil, make 
Avoca one of the most desirable locations in Minnesota, the easy 
terms on which a farm can be secured, are additional and substan- 
tial advantages for men of small means. 

Certainly no such teruis could be now secured from the railroad 
company — the owner of the land — as was secured under contract 
by Bishop Ireland in 1878, which contract still holds good, and all 
the 'advantages of which are transferred by the Bureau to the 
settlers. 

When Avoca Colony was opened, the lands were twenty miles 
from any railroad station. No railroad, no depot, no market 
nearer than twenty miles, no settlements but a few claim shanties 
on government lands scattered over the prairie; now we have in 
Avoca Colony two railroads running right through the colony 
lands, three railroad depots, and two growing railroad towns. 

TOWNS OF AVOCA AND FULDA. 

The growth of these towns might, in a measure, be taken as a 



6 CATHOLIC COLONIZATION IN MINNESOTA. 

proof of the prosperity of the settlements around them; we 
will treat of both separately; and it should be borne in mind, in 
connection with our review of the present state of the colony, 
that settlement on the colony lands did not commence to any 
extent before June, 1878, although it had been located and opened 
a few months before. 

The town of Avoca, laid out in the spring of 1878, is picturesquely 
situated near a beautiful lake on the Black Hills Branch of the St. 
Paul and Sioux City Railroad. On the southeast shore of the 
lake stands the town, with the settlers' farms scattered around; and 
on the opposite shore, Mr. Daniel Murphy, of Cork, Ireland, has 
erected a very handsome cottage with out-otfices, having purchased 
from the Bureau 240 acres of as fine land as there is in Minnesota. 
As game — prairie chickens, dueks, geese, snipe, plover, &c., abound 
in and around the lake, we expect to see Avoca within a few years 
a favorite resort for sportsmen and tourists; already the former 
have found it out, and the baggage car of the Avoca train is at 
this season, crowded with the produce of their guns, going to 
distant friends or market as the case may be. 

The town has two general country stores, grocery and restaurant, 
drug store, hardware store, furniture store, shoe store, first-class 
hotel — one of the handsomest country hotels in Minnesota — two 
second-class hotels, blacksmith shop, carpenter's shop, lumber 
yard, machinery and grain warehouse, ten private residences, 
post office, telegraph and express offices, also church, school house 
and resident priest. 

Mr. John Riggs opened the first store in Avoca, therefore we 
interviewed him, and give here a synopsis of our interview. 

" When did you come here, Mr. Riggs ? 

"In January, 1879" 

*' How much capital did you bring with you ?" 

"Not much" (laughing). 

" How much ?" 

*' About $200, but I put $500 more to this afterwards, making 
my capital $700." 

V What is your present standing ?" 

" I consider my building and stock worth four thousand dollars. " 

" Any gruml)lers here ?" 

"A few, as there are in everyplace, but fewer here than any 
other place I have been, and when you argue with a grumbler here 
he has to back down on the very objection he started on. " 

Fulda, the spirited rival of Avoca, and the younger by some 



COLONY OF AVOCA, MURRAY COUNTY. 7 

months, is situated in the southeastern part of the colony, six 
miles from the town of Avoca, on the main line of the Southern 
Minnesota Railroad. Two tiny lakes bound the town on the 
south, and the lay of the land around and quality of soil is not 
surpassed in Minnesota. Being on the main line of the Southern 
Minnesota Railroad, as it passes on to the gold mines of the Black 
Hills, Dakota Territory, it is destined to be the shipping point for 
the farm produce of the country tributary to it, on its way to the 
great markets of Milwaukee and Chicago, the latter the greatest 
grain market in the world. 

The town now contains five general stores, three hotels, two 
grain elevators, railroad depot, engine house (four engine stalls, 
Fulda being a division station,) coal shed (250 feet long,) lumber 
yard, printing and newspaper ofiice (Fulda Farmer,) law office, 
doctor's office, drug store, wagon shop, shoe shop, harness shop, 
school house, and twenty private houses. 

The largest store in the town is owned by Mr. John Smith. 
The building is 40x84 feet, two stories high; value of stock at 
present in the store $7000; average monthly sales, $1500. 

INTERVIEWS WITH THE FARMERS. 

Now we will let some of the settlers speak for themselves, giving 
— as nearly as possible, in their own words — their views in regard 
to land, soil, prospects, work done, and feelings in general, 
premising that there were no arrangements made for these inter- 
views. Our visitors came without notice, had but a limited time 
to remain, and we endeavored to left them see as many of the settlers 
and their farms as possible. 

The first farm visited was that of Mr. Joseph Hurst, situated 
about three miles from the town of Avoca. Mr. Hurst is an 
English Catholic, an intelligent agriculturist, who up to the 
time of his leaving England, cultivated a small farm within twelve 
miles of Liverpool. 

*' When did you arrive in Avoca, Mr. Hurst ?" we asked. 

" Last April. I had a capital of S500, a wife and four children. 
Made a contract for 160 acres of land, where we are now. Made 
first year's payment, put up this little house, 16x20, cost $40; 
bought a yoke of oxen, a cow, two pigs; broke 30 acres of land; 
had sod corn, potatoes and turnips in six acres." 

" What are your prospects ?" 

" Oh, the country will do when we get settled up." 

*' Are you glad of the change ?" 



8 CATHOLIC COLONIZATION IN MINNESOTA. 

'* Yes, very glad. There is a grand chance for an industrious 
man here. It is capital soil, as good as I ever saw; not so strong 
perhaps as the soil I was used to, but better for crops and easier 
worked." 

" Now, Mr. Hurst, you brought here with you last April, $500, 
and have done all you say. Will you now take $1000 and walk 
out." 

"No." 

"Well, $1500?" 

" No, but I think the mistress would; she is sometimes lonely.'* 

Turning to Mrs. Hurst we asked, " Are you lonely ?" 

"At first I was " she answered, "but I know now the change 
is all for the best. ' ' 

" This is a good country " said Mr. Hurst, " for an industrious 
man, plenty of room: why the farm I had in England, for which I 
paid six pounds an acre annual rent, would only make a good 
garden here." 

*' How about water ?" 

" 'Two days work will give you good well water " he answered, 

Mr. Hurst was back-setting or replowing the laud he had broken 
last summer, preparing it for crop next spring, when we called 
upon him. His plowing was splendid. He is an intelligent, 
industrious, sober man, who does his own thinking and works it 
out. He will be a great success on his Avoca farm, as he would 
be any where else with room and opportunity. 

The next settler visited was Mr. John McDonnell, an experienced 
farmer, now farming in Avoca Colony a half section or 320 acres 
of land. We found him busy plowing his land, and returned with 
him to his comfortable house, which cost him between $400 and 
$500. 

He informed us that he had put 120 acres under crop last spring, 
including 80 acres of flax. 

"How did the flax turn out?" we asked. 

"Well," he replied; "it was the second crop grown on the 
land. We had here this year the best flax crop grown in America, 
mine when threshed, will go from 22 to 25 bushels to the acre. 
Judging from this j^ear, I would say we have as fine soil for flax 
as any in the country." 

" What about your wheat: you had some ?" 

" Yes, it was good, 18 bushels to the acre; oats 60 bushels. When 
I break more laud I will sow clover and get into sheep raising. 
They will do splendidly ; and as for cattle, they actually fatten. 



COLONY OF AVOCA, MURRAY COUNTY, 9 

fit for the butcher, on wild grass and hay without any other feed. 
Farming is a complete success here; but if farmers go off working 
for others, and neglect their own plowing, they will have a crop 
of weeds and little grain. " 

"You are well satisfied, Mr. McDonnell?" 

" Well I want to get half section (320 acres) more of land. " 

And with this most characteristic western answer written dowu^ 
we closed our note book and journeyed on to the farm of Timothy 
Crowley, who came here from Boston, Mass., in 1878. 

Mr. Crowley was almost the first settler in the colony; he was 
from home, but his wife informed us that " They brought with 
them from the East about $600. They had now a comfortable 
house, yoke of oxen, cow and six pigs. They had taken up 40' 
acres of government land on which their house was built, and 80 
acres of colony lands; they had good crops this year, but they were 
injured by the rain. They were well satisfied." 

" What would you sell out for now ?" was asked: laughing, she 
answered, *' We would not sell out, at all events for what we laid 
out." 

Stepping lightly over the prairie and looking as if a large portion 
of it belonged to him, we met Mr. Thos. Ed. Price, who arrived in 
Avoca last May, from Tipperary, Ireland, with a great deal of good 
blood in his veins and very little money in his pocket. Youn^ 
gentlemen like Mr. Price, brought up in idleness at home, had better 
not come here unless they have the right manly stuff which he has 
shown. Like a man, he took off his coat, went to work with a 
farmer, and now has engaged a farm for himself, with fifty acres 
broken on it. 

• No one is more despised in the West than an idle gentleman; 
no one more respected than the young fellow, delicately brought 
up, who with a manly spirit goes to work and changes his soft 
hands into strong rough ones, developing by so doing his moral 
and physical strength. 

Also met Mr. , who arrived in the colony last June, from 

Ireland, and who has taken up 80 acres of land. We were informed 
that this man was discontented and were therefore glad to have 
an opportunity to interview him; but when we pulled out our note 
book and began asking him questions he grew quite suspicious. 

" What do you want to write down ?" he asked. " I don't want 
to have my name in any paper." 

"Well, the truth is," we replied, "we are hearing their own 
stories from the settlers, and as we have only heard good ones up to 



10 CATHOLIC COLOKIZATIOIS' m MINNESOTA. 

this, and are told you have a bad one, let us have it for variety; but 
^s you wish it we won't give your name, 

" Well, I'm discouraged." 

''Why so?" 

" Well, I had to pay for the breaking of my land, and now I will 
have to pay for the fall plowing, and have got nothing out of it 
yet." 

"■Why surely you did not expect to get a crop until you sowed 
the seed." 

"Oh, no; but you see it's a^long time to wait." 

*' Well, you must settle that with nature. Have you been 
working?" 

" Yes, I am a carpenter, and can get plenty of work, but I had to 
leave my work because my wife was sick, and she is not well yet. 
I am getting discouraged." 

" What are you discouraged at ?" 

This he could not tell, but repeated that he was discouraged- 
'We mention this case for the benefit of those it may be a warning 
to. This man may come out all right when he has his first crop, 
or he may move off, going from place to place ^'discouraged." 
Our experience teaches us that the safest and most satisfactory 
'Course (for all concerned) for a man easily discouraged to take, is 
to remain discouraged at home. 

The next man we interviewed was the very opposite to Mr. . 

"Now, Mr. Walsh, we want you to tell us all you know about 
jour farm and the colony lands in general." 

Ed. Walsh, a good type of an old western frontier farmer, gave 
«s a free and easy look as he answered, " I guess I know a good 
■deal more about land than you do; no offence." 

" Not a doubt about it, Mr. Walsh, therefore we have come to 
you for information." 

" Well, I have been farming in America for forty years, and my 
opinion is that we have a fine farming country here. I have 
bought half a section (320 acres) of land, broke 40 acres, put up a 
liouse and offices at a cost of $800. You would say I was five years 
here if you saw my place. I'll show some of the fellows here how 
to farm, and if you come on in another year, I'll tell you exactly 
how I feel and what I think. " 

Daniel O'Connell, a young Hercules from Cork, Ireland, who 
came out here last summer, the saddest man we ever met at leaving 
his country, was a settler we were very anxious to see; for his 
•down-right sorrow when we met him before, was really pitiable. 



COLONY OF AVOCA, MURRAY COUNTY. 11 

We were told now that he was completely changed, but only met 
him by chance at the railroad depot, for a short time. 

He was indeed a changed man, delighted beyond measure with 
America and the colony, where he had secured 80 acres of land. 

One of the gentlemen of our party who was from the same part 
of Ireland as O'Connell, asked him, if he was pleased with this 
country; and his answer was: 

"It is the finest country for the poor man and for the rich man 
in the world." 

O'Connell informed us that exclusive of the work he did on his 
own farm, he earned $40 during the harvest working for-others. 

The next settler interviewed was Mr. Daniel Murphy, from the 
county Cork, Ireland, who after spending one winter in Canada, 
came on to Avoca in the spring, and bought 240 acres of land. 
We have already made mention of this gentleman as having a 
handsome cottage residence on the banks of Avoca Lake. He is 
an educated gentleman, a scientific farmer, with a most interesting 
family and accomplished wife. 

Mr. Murphy informed us that he was greatly pleased with his 
prospects. " I observe much," he said, " and have made my cal- 
culations." 

" How much land did you break this year ?" we asked. 

"Sixty acres, in which I will put wheat, oats, flax and corn, I 
will want the corn for sheep and cattle. With good cultivation 
we can produce fine crops here. The crops were good here this 
year, where the land v/as well cultivated and the seed put in at 
the proper time. I will salt my wheat when it is up, and then 
roll it. 

" How much did your house and offices cost you ?" 

"$1300." 

" How about your garden on j'our new breaking?" 

" Every thing was good — cabbages, potatoes, carrots and ruta- 
bagas, all first class. There is no doubt but that a good crop of 
flax can be raised the first year on the new breaking. I tried a 
little patch of oats, and I am confident that oats too can be raised 
on breaking. If I knew when I came here as much as I do now I 
would have had a fair crop this the first year on my laud." 

FLAX CULTUKE — A CROP THE FIRST YEAR. 

Here we will notice a very valuable discovery made lately by the 
farmers in southwestern Minnesota. 

Flax culture is of a very recent date in Minnesota. Not until 



12 CATHOLIC COLONIZATION IN MINNESOTA. 

a flax company was established in the State, with the object of 
encouraging the cultivation of this crop, the company supplying 
the farmers with the seed on time and contracting to buy the pro- 
duee at a remunerative price — was there any amount of it sown. 

Now that its cultivation has become more general, it is discovered 
that it grows well on the new breaking, the first year, that by 
breaking early in May, one can have a fair crop of flax, and that 
by so doing the sod will be better rotted and the land more mellow 
for the next year's crop than if left in fallow. If this is so — and 
the evidence in favor of it seems indisputable — then the heretofore 
great drawback to a poor man taking new land and having to 
wait one year before having a grain crop, is entirely done away 
with: hereafter he can have a good marketable crop the first j'ear, 
besides his vegetables. The present price of flax seed is from $1 
to $1.25, a bushel 

The following statistics were furnished to us by the Rev. Charles 
Koeberl, the resident priest and agent of the colony. Father 
Koeberl's address is Avoca, Murray County, Minnesota. 

Within the colony bounds there are 60,000 acres of colony lands,. 
exclusive of an equal quantity of government lands settled on by 
people of various nationalities, between whom and the colony 
settlers there is the best of feeling. Of the 60,000 acres there are 
about 30,000 sold. 

Around the railroad station of lona, west of Fulda, the Rev. 
M. McDonnell, of Batavia, New York, has secured a large tract of 
land for the purpose of establishing there an orphan asylum and 
agricultual school for boys. There will be a Catholic church at 
lona, one at Fulda, and another in the northeast part of the colo- 
ny; these, Avith the present church at Avoca, will make four 
churches in the colony, and the most distant settler will not be 
more than five miles from a church: the majority of the settlers 
being only from one to four miles from a church. The temporary 
church at Avoca is entirely too small for the congregation, who 
are anxious to put up a larger and better one. It would be difiicult 
to find a better dressed or more intelligent congregation attending 
any rural church on this continent, than the one we saw at Avoca^ 
and we cannot call to mind any country church in this State with 
so fine a choir. 

The lands of the colony are unsurpassed by any in this State 
for general farming. The soil is a dark loam, with a clay subsoil, 
warm and rich, good for all varieties of crops; while the abundance 
of wild hay — scarcely a quarter section without its broad patch of 



COLONY OF AVOCA, MURRAY COUNTY. 13 

natural meadow — together with the good supply of water, in every 
part of the colony, from lakes, creeks, and the Des Moines River — 
render diversified fiu'ming — part agriculture, part stock and sheep 
raising — most desirable and without doubt most i^rofitable. This 
is the kind of farming that pays best, with less labor and expense; 
and we are glad to know that the settlers in Avoca Colony are 
anxious to engage in it. A place better adapted for it could not 
be found. 

TERMS OF LAND SALE. 

We have spoken of the easy terms on which lands can be had 
in the colony, we will now go briefly into detail. 

The lands sell at from $5.50 an acre to $7 on time contracts, 
■with 20 per cent, taken off for cash. Thus, if a man buys land 
at $6 per acre, and pays cash, he has his laud at $4.80 an acre. 
On time contracts the following are the terms: 
At the time of purchase, interest only, one year in advance 
seven per cent., is required; at the end of one year, interest only 
for another year; at the end of two years, one-tenth of the princi- 
pal, and a year's interest on the balance; at the end of three 
years, one-tenth of the principal, and interest on balance; at the 
end of each year thereafter, twenty per cent, of the principal, and 
interest on balance, until all is paid. 

We subjoin a practical illustration of these terms: 
We will say that January, 1881, a man contracts for 80 acres of 
land at $6 per acre, this will come to $480, with T per cent, interest, 
which sums he will have to pay as follows: 

Jan. 1, 188 L At time of purchase, one year's 

interest in advance, at 7 per cent. - $33 60 
Jan. 1, 1882. One year's interest, - - - - 33 60 

Jan. 1, 1883. Ten per cent, of principal, - - $48 00 

Interest on balance, - - 30 24 

78 24 

74 88 



Jan. 1, 1884. Ten per cent, of principal, - - 48 00 
Interest on balance, - - 26 88 



Jan. 1, 1885. Twenty percent, of principal, - 96 00 

Interest on balance, - - 20 16 



Jan. 1, 1886. Twenty per cent, of principal, - 96 00 

Interest on balance, - - 13 44 



116 16 

109 -44 

102 72 
Jan. 1, 1888. Twenty per cent, of principal, - 96 00 



Jan. 1, 1887. Twenty per cent, of principal, - 96 00 
Interest on balance, - - 6 72 



Land paid for, Total - - - $644 64 



14 CATHOLIC COLONIZATION IN MINNESOTA. 

Of course it is always better and safer when it can be done, to 
pay cash for the land. By getting 20 per cent, off the price, a 
man makes a good investment if he never comes onto the land, and 
getting his deed at once he has no more trouble. 

But the majority of poor men cannot buy for cash, and we have 
endeavored to do the next best thing for them — to get them good 
time contracts. 

The advantage of the terms we have secured is, that the princi- 
pal payments are all postponed until the farmer has had time to 
raise several crops from his laud. A quarter-section of land will 
support a family, pay for itself, leave after seven years a balance 
in cash, and be worth more than twice its original value. 

We have already selected several 80 and 160 acre farms in Avoca 
for persons not in a position to come on immediately to the land. 
Now let us explain how this operates. 

An intending immigrant writes to the Bureau to have 80 acres 
of land in Avoca at |6 per acre, selected for him. For those 80 
acres, he pays down, before getting his contract from the railroad 
company, one year's interest, $33.60. He writes on then, next 
spring, to the Bureau, to have 80 acres of his land broken and 
ready for a crop the following spring — 1882. His breaking will 
cost at $2.50 per acre, $75. He will have paid the first year $108,- 
60 and have his land ready for the seed; he comes on then the 
second spring, 1882, pays $33.60, another year's interest, to the 
railroad company, puts in his crop and has it saved and ready for 
market in August. Up to this time, not calculating the expenses 
chargeable to the crop, he has paid out $142.20, and has his farm 
open and in a fair way to pay for itself. 

MR. JOHN SWEETMAN'S PURCHASE OF LANDS ADJOINING AVOCA 

COLONY. 

In connection with the colony of Avoca, we have to make men- 
tion of a most cheering and gratifying fact. Mr. John Sweetman, 
of Drumbaragh, Kells, County Meath, Ireland, a gentleman of 
affluent means, induced first to inquire into the subject of Catholic 
colonization by reading our pamphlet published in 1879, and with 
nq object but the pure religious one of doing good, has now after 
paying two visits to this country within the last six months, and 
receiving from the Right Rev. Bishop Ireland every information on 
the subject of Catholic colonization, and every opportunity to 
investigate its working — purchased in Murray County, for cash, 
20,000 acres of choice land, commencing on the north line of Avoca 



COLONY OF AVOCA, MURRAY COUNTY. 15 

Colony and running to within three miles of Tracy, a railroad town 
and station on the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. 

Mr. Sweetman, having made all necessary arrangements here» 
has just returned to Ireland to bring over in the spring his first 
batch of Irish emigrants, numbering sixty families : others wilJ 
follow, until every acre of this splendid tract of land is occupied by 
Irish settlers direct from Ireland; and we look forward to seeing 
much larger tracts bought up through Mr. Sweetman 's influence. 

We make this imperfect notice here of a great and good under- 
taking, merely to show the advantage and strength our Avoca 
Colony will derive from it. We have already secured large tracts 
of land for our people in Murray County, and here is now a splendid 
tract, adjoining our colony in the same county, and running up ta 
the county line, bought by an Irish gentleman for the purpose of 
peopling it with Irish settlers. 

The meaning of this is, that our people will, within a very short 
time, be the possessors of one of the fairest counties in Minnesota, 
where there will be an opening for the young, ambitious man to 
win honor and position; for the enterprising man to accumulate 
capital; for the poor, industrious man to secure an honest, inde- 
pendent home; and for us all to show to the world, that with fair 
play we can advance with the swiftest and rise with the highest. 

Much as has been done, we deem now that the purchase of lands 
in southwestern Minnesota, for the purpose of Catholic colonization, 
has only got fairly under way. Men of wealth, influence, and 
position in this country and in Europe, are becoming actively 
interested in the subject, and we expect to have the happiness of 
seeing our humble efforts far outstripped in the near future. 

FARM STATISTICS. 

How much capital would I require to start on a new farm ? 

This is a question continually put to us by correspondents. 
The following figures will show the least amount we deem it neces- 
sary for the new settler to have. We do not recommend a man 
with any less to come; on the contrary, we caution him that if he 
comes with less, it must be at his own risk. 

At the same time we know of a man who settled in one of our 
colonies two years ago with a capital of eighteen dollars, cut the 
past harvest on his own land some forty or fifty acres of wheat, 
and told Father Nugent, he would not take $1500 for his place. 
We would back this man with a hoe against the discouraged man 



16 CATHOLIC COLONIZATIOK IN MINNESOTA. 

with a thousand dollars, and would have little doubt as to which of 
them would come out ahead. 

Here are our figures: 

We will take up the poor man's case first, as it is the one we 
iiave the most interest in, and we land him on his farm in the 
spring. 

He puts up a very cheap house; by and by he will have a better 
one — but in the meantime he can make this one comfortable, 
warm and clean — much better than a cheap lodging in a city. 

We will give the dimensions of the house as 16x18 ft., to be 
built of single boards; these to be sodded on the outside to any 
depth the owner may wish. In this way, he can have a house far 
warmer than a poorly put up frame house, at the following cost : 
1,600 feet of lumber, - - - - - $25 00 

2 windows, 2 doors, - - - - 6 50 

Shingles, ... - - - 7 25 



Total, - - - - - $38 75 

N. B. — It must be understood that is a poor man's temporary 
liouse, which he can add to and improve little by little. 
NoAv we must furnish the house : 



$25 00 


5 00 


2 00 


2 00 


9 00 



HOUSE FUENITURE. 

Cooking stove, ..... 

Crockery, ...... 

Chairs, ...... 

Table, ...... 

3 bedsteads, ..... 

Total, - $43 00 

CATTLE AND FARMING IMPLEMENTS. 

He buys a breaking yoke of oxen, weighing from 3,200 to 

3,400 lbs. at about, . . . . $100 00 

Breaking plow, .... 23 00 

Wagon, - - - - - 75 00 



Total, ..... $198 00 

Then he goes to work and breaks up early in May, five acres 
for garden, ten for a flax crop, and twenty-five acres more in June, 
giving him forty acres ready for his next year's crop. 

His vegetables grown on the sod will go a far way to support 



COLONY OF AVOCA, MURRAY COUNTY. 17 

him, and his ten acres of flax will likely bring him in cash, $100 
the first year. 

WHAT IT WILL COST HIM TO LIVE. 

For a family of four, 30 bushels of wheat, ground into flour, 

at $1. a bushel, ..... $30 00 

Groceries, - - - - - - 15 00 

1 COW for milk, - - - - - - 25 00 

Fuel, - - - - - - - 30 00 



Total, - - - ... $100 00 

HOW HE STANDS THE SECOND SPRING. 

He has laid out, for a house, .... $38 75 

For fuel, - - - - . - 30 00 

" Furniture, - - - • . - 43 00 

" Cattle and farming implements, . - . 198 00 

Cost of living, including price of COW, . . . 100 00 



Total, - $409 75 

He has a set-ofi" against this, $100 for his flax crop raised on the 
sod, and about $40 he can earn during harvest. Nevertheless we 
cannot advise him to come with a less capital than four hundred 
dollars and to this he must add in his calculations, his expenses 
•coming here. 

SECOND year's EXPENSES. 

One drag to put in the crop, shaking the seed by hand, $12 00 
Seed wheat for forty acres, - - - • 60 00 

Hires his grain cut and bound, • - - 60 00 

Shocking and stacking, &c,, &c., done by exchanging 

work with neighbt^rs. 
Machine threshing at 5 cents a bushel, - - 40 00 

Extra labor done by exchanging work. 



Total, ...... $172 00 

We have now come down to the harvest and the second year on 
the land. 

Up to this the settler's expenses have been $581 75. 

Let us see what the land is likely to set off" against this sum. 

We will base our calculations on a wheat crop as the most con- 
venient. We expect of course that the settler will have a variety 
of crops. 



1^ CATHOLIC COLONIZATION IN MINNESOTA. 

40 acres of wheat, 20 bushels to the acre, one dollar a 

bushel, ...... $800 00 

Charges against crop, - - - ... 581 75 



$218 25 



Adding to this $100 received for flax the year before, and $40^ 
that he earned same year, the settler has in hand the second year, 
after paying all expenses, .... $358 25 

He has this sum realized after supporting his family for sixteen 
months, his home made, stock paid, his farm open and at least 
$300 added to the value of his land. 

CASH EXPENSES, 

for 50 acres, where a man hires all his work done. He may prefer 
to do this, to buying cattle or horses to break, as he may be a man 
who can earn high wages, until his first crop comes in. 
Breaking 50 acres, at $2.50 per acre, - - . $125 00 

Seed wheat, - - - . . . 75 00 

Seeding and dragging, at 90 cents per acre, - - 45 00 

Cutting and binding, $1.50 per acre, - - 75 00 

Stacking, five days, two men and team, - . 25 00 

Threshing and hauling to market, at 12 cents a bushel, 120 00 



Cash expenses of crop, - - . $465 00 

CREDITS. 

Fifty acres of wheat, 20 bushels to the acre, at $1 per 

bushel, _• - - . . $1,000 00 

Charged to the crop, - . ^ . . . 465 00 



Balance in favor of crop, .... $535 00 

Now, the expense of breaking, by right, should not be charged 
to the first crop, for it is a permanent value, added to the value of 
the land, and should be calculated as capital: 50 acres broken on a 
farm of a 160, adds full $2 an acre to the value of the property. 

But in the above calculation, we have not alone charged the 
first crop with the breaking expenses, but also with the cash price 
of every dollar's worth of labor expended, until the wheat is in 
the railroad elevator, and the owner has nothing more to do, unless 
to receive his money for it; and yet there is a clear profit over all 
expenses of $535.00. 

In making these calculations, it is necessary to put a certain 



COLONY OF AVOCA, MURRAY COUNTY. 19 

value on the wheat per bushel, and to allow for a certain amount 
of bushels to the acre, but it will be obvious to any reader that in 
both these important items there are continual variations. Taking 
the average of man}'^ years' crops and prices, our calculations are 
as near correct as they can be made. 

SECOND CALCULATION OF HOUSE BUILDING, 

In our calculation of the smallest sum a man would require, 
coming to settle on the land, we made an estimate of a very cheap 
house indeed, nevertheless one that can be made warmer than 
many a more expensive one. We give an estimate of the cost of 
a frame house 16x2'l, a story and a half high, with a T addition, 
and a cellar 12 by 16. 

We give the exact expenses of a house of this kind as it stands 
at present in one of our colonies. It has three rooms up stairs 
with a hall, two rooms down stairs with a hall and pantry, and 
has had one coat of plaster. 

Material for house, ..... $280 

Work, - ... . . 75 



Total, ...... $355 

A man himself helping, can lessen this item for work, say $25, 
leaving the cost of the house $330. 

In our first calculation we put down as the lowest sum a man 
would require to have after his arrival on the land, $409.75. But 
in this calculation we gave him a house, such as it was, for $38.75. 
Now, if he wants the better house we have just described, his 
capital should be $726. 

WHAT A MAN WITH MODERATE CAPITAL CAN DO. 

We now come to the case of a man with moderate capital, who 
wishes to start with a complete outfit of farming machinery, &c. 
Coming in the spring, in time to commence breaking by the end 
of May, he buys 
Three Horses, ..... 

One sulky plow — seat for driver, breaker attachment. 
Seeder, ...... 

Harrow . . . . - 

Harvester and self-binder, . . . - 

Horse rake and mower, - . . - 

Wagon, - -, - 

Total, $1,007 00 



$375 


00 


70 00 


65 


00 


12 00 


285 00 


125 


00 


75 


00 



20 CATHOLIO COLONIZATION" IN MINNESOTA. 

N. B. — It is calculated that the grain saved by the self-binder 
over hand work pays for the wire used in binding, and in labor 
50 cents an acre is saved, besides the board of two men. We will 
soon have twine and straw binders perfected, an improvement 
which will do away with the expense of wire altogether. 

With a sulky plow and three horses, our farmer breaks 100 acres 
of land, and puts it under wheat the following year. 
He has been already at an outlay for horses and 

machinery, of - - - - - $1,007 00 

Seed wheat costs - - - - - 160 00 

Shocking and stacking - ' - - - - TO 00 

Threshing and hauling, using his three horses, 10 cents 

a bushel, - - - • - - 200 00 



Total, $1,427 00 

CEBDITS. 

2,000 bushels of wheat, .... $2,000 00 

Hay cut by mower, .... 200 00 

$2,200 00 
Expenses, - - - - - 1,427 00 

Balance in favor of crop, - - - $773 00 

Now, it will be borne in mind, that we have charged the first 
crop with horses and machinery, property that, by right, should 
come under the head of capital; we have charged it with what 
will work the farm for years, and help to produce successive crops, 
not of one hundred acres, but of two or three hundred acres; and 
yet, with all the charges, the crop shows a profit of $773. 

What other business can make such a showing as this ? 

And yet we have made no mention of the industry which will 
bring in the most reliable profit to the farmer in the coming years, 
when the hurry and expense of opening a new farm are things of 
the past, viz., stock and sheep farming. 

EEMAKKS. 

Be it remembered, that while we give certain figures for crops 
and prices, we do not guarantee their fulfillment in all cases. 
By no means. 

It will require good farming — no scraping — to produce twenty 
bushels of wheat to the acre. We haye made our calculations, 
guided by the past experience of practical farmers. 



COLONY OF AVOCA, MURRAY COUNTY. 21 

Seasons may come, too, when crops may fail. Farming, like 
everything else in this world, has its uncertain features, its draw- 
backs; but the drawbacks are only incidental. A man is always 
sure to raise enough for his support, in the worst of seasons, and 
he has his land, his home, and in a bountiful harvest forgets he 
ever had poor crops. 

There is no State in the Union where there is a greater cer- 
tainty of good average crops than in Minnesota, and in all our 
experience we have never known a case where an industrious, 
sober man, settled for some years on his own land, in this State, 
failed to make a good home for himself. 

N. B. — All farming machinery can be bought on long time. 

WATER AND FUEL. 

Water and fuel are two great necessaries that must not be over- 
looked. Good water can be had all over Avoca Colony at a 
distance of from 15 to 25 feet from the surface, and for stock the 
rivers, creeks and lakes give a bountiful supply. In regard to fuel, 
Iowa coal is delivered at any of the railroad stations in the colony 
for about $5 a ton; wood can be had about nine miles from the 
center of the colony for $4 a cord; but during the summer most 
of the settlers burn twisted hay, and housekeepers prefer it for 
baking. There will be no want of fuel when coal can be had so 
readily, and two acres of good wheat can buy all the fuel a man 
could possibly use in a small house. 

WHEN TO COME — WHAT TO BRING — RAILROAD PARES. 

Decidedly the best time for the emigrant to come to Minnesota 
is the spring. If possible, he should not arrive later than the 
middle of April. He should have his land selected in time to com- 
mence to break for garden stuif, for flax and corn, then he can 
continue to break, for his next year's wheat crop, up to the early 
part of July. A man coming in the early part of June can have 
land broken for his next year's crop, but he loses the advantages 
of garden stuff, flax and sod corn, to help him out in his living 
until his first principal crop comes in. 

Bring all your bedding that is of value; all your bedclothes; all 
wearing apparel; good clothing of every description; nothing 
more. 



26 00 


23 00 


23 00 


20 00 


12 00 


9 00 



22 CATHOLIC COLONIZATION IN MINNESOTA. 

EAILROAD FARES FROM DIFFERENT POINTS. 

1st Class. 2d Class. Immigrant. 

New York ..$35 25 $30 25 $24 00 

Philadelphia 33 50 28 45 24 00 

Moutreal 36 25 

Toronto 29 25 

Buffalo 29 25 

Cleveland 25 55 

Chicago 15 25 

Milwaukee 12 25 

N. B. — The above are the fares from the points mentioned to 
St. Paul. Doubtless persons coming in a large party from the 
same place would get special low rates. 

Persons going from St. Paul to Avoca get half rates ($3.00) by 
calling at the office of the Catholic Colonization Bureau, but the 
direct way for emigrants coming from the Eastern States or 
Europe to the Avoca Colony is to get their tickets direct to Fulda 
station, via LaCrosse, Wisconsin, over the Southern Minnesota 
Railroad. 

Persons wishing any further information may apply directly to 
Rev. Chas. Koeberl, Avoca, Murray Co., Minnesota, or to 

The Catholic Colonization Bureau, 

St. Paul, Minnesota. 



MINNESOTA. 



its geographical position — SIZE — OPINIONS OF DISTINGUISHED 
MEN — FERTILITY, BEAUTY AND HEALTHFULNESS OF THE STATE. 

The State contains 83,153 square miles or 53,459,840 acres, and 
is, therefore, one of the largest in the Union. It occupies the 
exact centre of the continent of North America. It lies midway 
between the Arctic and Tropic circles — midway between the 
Atlantic and Pacific* oceans — and midway between Hudson's Bay 
and the Gulf of Mexico. It embraces the sources of three vast 
water systems which reach their ocean termini, northward through 
Hudson's Bay, eastward through the chain of great lakes, and 
southward via the Mississippi River. It extends from 43^-° to 49° 
of north latitude, and from 89° 29' to 97° 5' of west longitude; and 
is bounded on the north by the Winnipeg district of British 



COLONY OF AVOOA, MURRAY COUNTY. 23 

America, on the west by the Territory of Dakota, on the south 
by the State of Iowa, and on the east by Lake Superior and the 
State of Wisconsin. 

Ill otficial reports before us, we find m.lny interesting extracts 
from the writings of well-known public men, agriculturists, geol- 
ogists, professors in various branches of science, engineers, sur- 
veyors and government officials, who have visited Minnesota at 
various times on business or pleasure, and who have borne enthu- 
siastic testimony of her resources, the fertility of her soil, the 
healthfulness of her climate and the beauty of her scenery. 

A few sentences from all these writings will suffice for us in 
this place. 

In the official report of General Pope, who was commissioned 
by the government to make a topographical survey of portions of 
the State, we find the following sentence, which embraces almost 
all that can be said in praise. He says : 

" I KNOW of NO COUNTRY OH EARTH ivheve SO MANY advantages 
are presented to the farmer and manufacturer." 

The adaptability of our rich soil for all the staple crops, as 
proven by experience, the large yield per acre in wheat, oats, 
potatoes, &c., &c., the immense quantity of good land in large 
bodies, the truly magnificent water power within the State, and 
so beneficently located in its difi"erent sections; all these advan- 
tages, seen beneath a sky always bright, and in a climate at all 
seasons healthy, may well account for the enthusiasm which 
inspired the above eulogy on Minnesota. 

The accredited correspondent of the Chicago Tribune, who vis- 
ited this State some four years ago, is equally enthusiastic in his 
published letters to his paper. We give two extracts from those 
letters. 

" No wonder the people here wear such smiling countenances. 
They are full of hope. I have yet to see the first despairing or 
gloomy face. Melancholy belongs to the overcrowded cities, and 
there is plenty of it in Chicago. 

"Is it not astonishing that so many able-bodied men should 
hang about our large cities doing nothing, because they can find 
nothing to do, and nearly starving to death, when these broad and 
fertile prairies are calling upon them to come and release the 
treasures which lie within the soil. 

" The resources of this State are immense. It has every variety 
of wealth, and every facility for profitable exchange. There is no 
more productive soil in the world. Then the State has an abundance 
of pine timber. It has a vast amount of available water power, 
and ofi'ers everv facility and encouragement to manufacturing 



24 CATHOLIC COLONIZATION IX MINNESOTA. 

industry. It has mineral wealth on Lake Superior of iron and 
copper, in inexhaustible abundance. There is no region in this- 
country, or any country, that I am aware of, that is so well 
watered. And the water is everywhere clear and pure. It is a 
land of great rivers, peltucid lakes, and sparkling streams. 

"All this may sound enthusiastic, but every word is calmly 
written and justified by the facts; and it is strictly within the facts. 
If the advantages of this region were only adequately made known, 
there would surely be a great flow of labor from the cities and 
places where it is not wanted, into a region like this, where every 
variety of labor is needed, and where it is certain to meet with a 
rich reward. " 

In the second extract we give, this correspondent expresses him- 
self in language very similar to that made use of by General Pope. 
He says, still speaking of Minnesota: 

"I know of no other portion of the earth's surface where sO" 
many advantages are concentrated, and where the man of in- 
dustry and small means may so quickly and with so much certainty 
render himself independent. Here you have a climate of exceed- 
ing purity, a soil of amazing productiveness, abundance of the 
clearest water, with groves, and lakes, and rivers, and streams 
wherever they are wanted. Then the great railway lines are 
beginning to intersect this country in all directions, and thus 
furnish the farmer with a cheap and immediate outlet lor hi» 
produce. " 

We will close these brief extracts — taken from the writings of 
persons well qualified to form a sound judgment on the subject 
they were discussing, and totally unconnected personally with the 
interests of Minnesota — with two extracts from a speech of the 
distinguished statesman, Hon. Wm. H. Seward, delivered in St. 
Paul, the capital of our State, so far back as 1860. 

Mr. Seward said, and America has not produced so far-seeing a 
statesman: 

** Here is the place — the central place — where the agriculture of 
the richest region of North America must pour out its tributes to 
the whole world. On the east, all along the shore of Lake 
Superior, and west, stretching in one broad plain in a belt quite 
across the continent, is a country where State after State is yet to 
rise, and where the productions for the support of human society 
in the old crowded States must be brought forth. ♦ • * 

" I now believe that the ultimate last seat of government on this 
great continent will be found, somewhere within a circle or radius 
not very far from the spot on which I stand, at the head of navi- 
gation on the Mississippi River." 



COLONY OF AVOCA, MURRAY COUNTY. 25 



GENERAL STATE STATISTICS. 



LAKES, RIVERS, TIMBER, CLIMATE, SOIL, STOCK RAISING. 

In the following we have borrowed much from authorized State- 
reports, adding our own comments when necessary. 

LAKES. 

Minnesota abounds in lakes of great beauty. They are from 
one to fifty miles in diameter, and are well stocked with a variety 
of fish. Those beautiful lakes are found in every portion of the- 
State, sparkling on the open prairie, hidden in groves, or resting^ 
calm and pure in the depths of the silent forest. 

If we were writing a sketch book we would go into a full 
description of our lakes, for they are the pride and boast of 
Minnesotians. Long ago, the Red Man was captivated with their 
beauty and gave to this, his then demesne, its present poetic 
name — Minnesota: (Indian language — sky-tinted water.) 

RIVERS. 

Minnesota has five navigable rivers. The Mississippi (The 
Father of Waters,) having its rise in Lake Itaska, in the northern 
part of the State. 

The St. Croix, flowing through a large portion of the lumbering 
region. 

The Minnesota, rising in Dakota Territory and flowing througb 
a large portion of the State empties into the Mississippi, five 
miles above St. Paul. It is navigable, in favorable seasons, about 
300 miles. 

The Red River of the North, forming the northwestern boundary 
of the State for a distance of 380 miles, and navigable about 250, 

The St. Louis River, flowing into Lake Superior on our north- 
eastern boundary, a distance of 135 miles. 

Besides these, the largest rivers are the Root, Rum, Crow, Sauky 
Elk, Long Prairie, Crow Wing, Blue Earth, Le Sueur, Maple, 
Cobb, Watonwan, Snake, Kettle, Redwood, Wild Rice, Bufl"alo', 
Chippewa, Marsh, Pomme de Terre, Lac qui Parle, Mustinka, Yel- 
low Medicine, Two Rivers, Cottonwood, Cannon, Zumbro, White- 
water, Cedar, Red Lake, Straight, Vermillion, and others. These,, 
with a vast number of smaller streams tributary to them, ramify- 



^6 CATHOLIC COLOlflZATION" IN MINNESOTA. 

ing through fertile upland and grassy meadow, in every section of 
the State, afford invaluable facilities for the various purposes of 
lumbering, milling, manufacturing and agriculture. 

In connection with her rivers, we will say that Minnesota has 
perhaps the finest water power, within her bounds, to be found in 
the world. This power is found all over the State, and though 
only very partially developed, it serves to manufacture 2,600,000 
barrels of flour annually, and runs 250 saw mills. 

TIMBEE. 

Minnesota is neither a timber nor a prairie State; yet it pos- 
sesses in a large degree the advantages of both, there being unques- 
tionably a better proportion of timber and prairie, and a more 
admirable intermingling of the two than in any other State. It 
is estimated that about one-third of Minnesota is timbered land, 
of more or less dense growth. In Iowa, it has been officially esti- 
mated that only about one-tenth to one-eighth of the State is 
timbered. 

CLIMATE. 

For health, for the full enjoyment of life, for that indescribable 
•exhilaration of spirits which bright skies, a clear, dry atmosphere 
and pure air give, the climate of Minnesota cannot be surpassed. 

Its mean yearly temperature (44.6) coincides with that of Cen- 
tral Wisconsin, Michigan, Central New York, Southern Vermont, 
New Hampshire, and Maine; but in the dryness of its atmosphere 
it has, both for health and comfort, a great advantage over those 
States. It is well known that dampness is the element from 
whence come sickness and suffering, either in cold or warm 
weather, and the dry atmosphere of winter in Minnesota, at an 
average temperature of 16°, makes the cold less felt than in warmer 
but damper climates several degrees farther south. 

We have in Minnesota about four months of what may be 
called winter, but the severe cold weather seldom comes before 
Christmas, and lasts only to about the 1st of March. To some 
this period is about the most enjoyable in the year. " Winter in 
Minnesota," says a late writer, "is a season of ceaseless busi- 
ness activity, and constant social enjoyment; and by those accus- 
tomed to long wintry storms, and continued alternations of mud, 
and cold, and snow, is pronounced far preferable to the winters in 
any section of the Northern States. Here there is an exhilaration 
in the crisp atmosphere which quickens the blood, and sends the 
bounding steps over the ringing snow with an exultant flurry of 
good-spirits akin to the highest enjoyment." 



COLONY OF AVOCA, MURRAY COUNTY. 27 

Doubtless this was written from the stand-point of warm robes, 
a light cutter, a fast horse, and tingling sleigh-bells; nevertheless 
it is in the main true. When the surface of the body is warmly 
clothed, one can enjoy out-door exercise in the winter with every 
comfort. 

The summer months are pleasant. We have hot days, as one 
can judge by bearing in mind that our wheat crop is put into the 
ground, cut and often threshed, all within three months; but our 
nights are always beautiful and cool. Then comes autumn, when 
the wayside copse, blushing at the hot kisses of the sun, turns 
scarlet, and every tint of shade and color is seen in the variegated 
foliage of the forest; and then the hazy, Indian summer — nothing 
so lovely could last long on earth — when forest and prairie, dell 
and highland, palpitate with a hushed beauty, and to live is hap- 
piness sufficient. 

Pure air is health, life. Winter and summer, fall and spring, 
the air of Minnesota, free from all malaria, is pure. We promise 
to the new settler, making a home on land in Minnesota, plenty 
of hard work, and the best of health and spirits — so far as climate 
has any effect on those blessings, and it has a great deal — while 
doing it. It will not be necessary for him to get acclimated, but 
to pitch right in. 

Disturnell, author of a work on the "Influence of Climate in 
North and South America," says that ^^ Minnesota may he said to 
excel anyportion of the Union in a healthy and invigorating climate.''* 

In connection with this very important subject, health, the fol- 
lowing comparative statement as to the proportion of deaths to 
population, in several countries in Europe and States in the Union, 
will be read with interest : 



Minnesota 1 

Great Britain and Ireland. 1 

Germany 1 

Norway 1 

Sweden 1 

Denmark 1 

France 1 

Switzerland 1 

Holland 1 



in 


155 


in 


46 


m 


37 


in 


56 


in 


50 


in 


46 


in 


41 


in 


41 


in 


39 



Wisconsin 1 in 108 

Iowa 1 in 93 

Illinois 1 in 73 

Missouri 1 in 51 

Michigan 1 in 88 

Louisiana 1 in 43 

Texas 1 in 46 

Pennsylvania 1 in 96 

United States 1 in 74 



The above is so conclusive an exhibit in confirmation of the 
healthfuluess of the Minnesota climate, that it exhausts the subject. 

SOIL. 

Under this head, the late J. B. Phillips, Commissioner of Sta- 
tistics, says : 

" The soil of the arable part of the State is generally of the best 



28 CATHOLIC COLONIZATION" IN MINNESOTA. 

quality, rich in lime and organic matter, and particularly well 
adapted to the growth of wheat, over 26,400,000 bushels of which 
cereal were produced in 1S73, and over 30,000,000 in 1875. 
Although its fertility has never been disputed, these authentic 
figures prove it beyond question. Good wheat lands in a favorable 
season will produce from 25 to 30 bushels to the acre. I believe 
the whole county of Goodhue, in a yield of between 3,000,000 and 
4,000,000 bushels, very nearly averaged the first figures in 1875. 
A great portion of the State is equally adapted to stock raising, 
and many farmers think it would be more profitable." 

We will add to this, by way of a note, that in 1877, Minnesota, 
with only 3,000,000 acres of her land under cultivation, produced 
35,000,000 bushels of wheat, almost all No. 1 quality, and that 
Goodhue County, mentioned in the extract quoted, had a yield of 
4,050,250 bushels. 

According to the report of the United States Commissioner of 
Agriculture for 1877, the average yield of wheat per acre for that 
year was : 



In Minnesota 18.5 bushels. 

" Illinois 16.5 " 

" Ohio 15 " 

" Wisconsin 15 " 

" Nebraska 15 " 



In Indiana 14.5 bushels. 

" Iowa 14.5 " 

" Missouri 14 " 

" Kansas 13.5 " 

" California 9.5 •' 



What the gold mines of the Pacific slope have been to California, 
her rich soil has been to Minnesota, while the classes attracted 
here by our agricultural resources, and broad wheat fields, cannot 
be surpassed in any country, as intelligent, law-abiding, peaceful, 
industrious citizens. 

STOCK RAISING. 

We know of no country where stock, horses and sheep, do better 
than in Minnesota, and we believe that it will be found true that 
the climate conducive to the health of human beings is one where 
all kinds of domestic animals will thrive. 

We had, some time ago, a very interesting conversation with 
Mr. Featherston, an English gentleman residing in Goodhue 
County, on this subject. 

He informed us that he had farmed in England, in the State of 
New York, in Kansas, and now in Minnesota, and he was never 
in a place where sheep and stock did better than here. "I attri- 
bute this," he said " to the dryness of our winter weather. Sheep 
here are not weighed down with wet fleeces; and as for cattle, 
they suffer more in southern Kansas, where they can remain out 
all the year, than they do here in the coldest days of winter." 

*♦ How is that ? " we asked. 



COLONY OF AVOCA, MURRAY COUNTY. 



29 



" Easil}' accounted for," he replied, "One part of the day, in 
Kansas, it will be raining, the coats of the cattle will be saturated 
with wet, then it comes on to freeze, and they become sheeted 
with ice; this is very injurious to the health of a beast. Sheep 
raising in Minnesota I have found very profitable fjirming indeed. " 

"What about the soil of Minnesota? " we asked. 

" Well," he replied, "I was home in England two years ago, 
traveled about a good deal, and did not see any soil equal to the 
soil of Minnesota. " 



CROPS. 
Crops. 1879. 

Acres. 
Wheat 2,762,521 



Oats 

Kje 

"Corn 

Barley 

JBuckwheat . 

Beans 

Flaxseed . . . 
Potatoes . . . 



567,371 

11,534 

379,766 

96,951 

3,380 

2,156 

12,966 

37,910 



Bus. 
31,218,634 
20,623,175 

172,887 

12,892,563 

2,413,199 

33,163 

24,434 

99,378 

3,915,890 



1880. 

Acres. 

2,963.325 

688,415 

11,688 

455,514 

118,856 

3,177 

2,105 

45,236 

40,618 



Acres. 

Amber Syrup 5,033 

€ultivated Hay 145,150 

Wild Hay 

Hops 13 

Other Products 18,323 

■Cultivated Area 4,043,074 

Apple Trees, bearing No., 269,186 

" " growing " 1,121,779 



Galls., 446,946 

Tons, 194,994 

" 1,200,506 

Lbs.. 4,071 



Acres. 

7,317 
146,928 

37 

20,545 

4,503,761 

No., 299,319 

" 1,160,240 



1879. 

Apples Bus., 124,261 

Timothy Seed " 39,376 

Clover Seed " 18,4G0 

Butter lbs., 15,639,069 

Oheese " 586,448 

Honey " 208,018 

•Grapes " 135,086 

"Strawberries qts., 237,626 

Tobacco lbs , 65,089 

Sheep .' No., 206,477 

Wool lbs., 948,184 

No. of Farms in 1880 

Average area cultivated per farm acres. 



1880. 



K 



223,791 

925.278 

40,618 

111 



30 CATHOLIC COLON"IZA.TION IN MINNESOTA. 

GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF THE STATE. 

Under this head we give the following figures: they speak for 
themselves. 

Calculated area in the State: 

1850, - - - - - - 1,900 acres. 

1860, 433,267 " 

1870, 1,863,316 " 

1877, ..... 2,896,496 " 

1880, 4,389,651 " 

ASSESSED VALUE OF PROPERTY. 

1860, $36,743,408 

1870, - - - . . 87,133,673 

1880, ...... 269,000,000 

But the latter sum does not include the entire wealth of the 
State by a great deal, for the 3,100 miles of railway now in opera- 
tion, with rolling stock, stations and other property, is not assessed 
because the companies pay a percentage of the earnings of the 
roads as their tax. There are likewise, some 3,350 school houses; 
three normal schools; a university; two insane asylums; an insti- 
tute for deaf, dumb and blind; a soldiers' orphans' home; reform 
school; penitentiary; about fifty court houses, county jails and 
poorhouses and farms; eight or ten hospitals; a score of charitable 
institutions; some twelve hundred churches; and considerable other 
property devoted to educational, charitable, or religious purposes, 
which is not taxed, and does not, therefore, appear on the assess- 
ment rolls. To say nothing of thousands of bridges and wagon 
roads. 

POPULATION. 

1860, 172,000 

1880, ...... 780,000 

RAILROADS. 

In 1863, Minnesota had nine miles of railroad; in 1880, now in 
operation, 3,100 miles, with many new lines building and pro- 
jected. 

WHAT MINNESOTA HAS DONE IN TWENTY-FIVE YEARS. 

The following is an extract from a speech delivered the other day 
by our worthy Governor, J. S. Pillsbury, at an agricultural fair in 
this State. After enumerating to his audience most of the things 
we had not twenty-five years ago, the governor went on to say: 



COLONY OF AVOCA, MURRAY COUNTY. 31 

'* Mark what a cliange has been wrought in twenty-five years. 
To-day there are eight trunk raih'oads that reach our borders, and 
we have more than 3,000 miles of completed railroad in our state, 
stretching from the Mississippi to the Missouri river. Seven 
railroad lines stretch across our state from east to west, all taxed 
to their utmost capacity to transport our multiplied products to 
the markets of the world. The great Northern Pacific railway 
will sooli reach the Pacific cost, opening u^d new sources and 
markets for our varied products. To-day we have a population of 
800,000 of healthy, prosperous and happy people. The mails are 
supplied to the people throughout our state by the trunk lines of 
railroad twice and three times a day from New York, Boston, 
Chicago and the east. Our state is dotted with villages and cities, 
containing extensive machinery capable of turning out engines 
and boilers of the largest size and most improved patterns, with 
all varieties of machinery for the wants of the state. 

"More than 2,000 run of mill stones are daily running and 
manufacturing the best quality of flour for supplying the markets 
of the country. Manufactories are being continually started for 
the production of nearly all classes of goods and merchandise. 
Our farmers have now more than 4,000,000 acres of land under 
cultivation, producing annually 40,000,000 bushels of the finest 
quality of wheat, and nearly 100,000,000 bushels of the four prin- 
cipal cereals." 

HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION LAW. 

We are proud of the Homestead Law of Minnesota. The S tate 
says to its citizen : you may be unfortunate, even culpably im- 
provident, nevertheless you and your family shall not be left home- 
less or without means to enable you to retrieve past misfortunes 
or faults. 

The law reads — 

" That a homestead consisting of any quantity of land not ex- 
ceeding eighty acres, and the dwelling house thereon and its 
appurtenances, to be selected by the owner thereof, and not 
included in any incorporated town, city or village, or instead 
thereof, at the option of the owner, a quantity of land not exceed- 
ing in amount one lot, being within an incorporated town, city 
or village, and the dwelling house thereon and its appurtenances, 
owned and occupied by any resident of this State, shall not be 
subject to attachment, levy, or sale, upon any execution or any 
other process issuing out of any court within this State. This 



32 CATHOLIC COLONIZATION IN MINNESOTA. 

section shall be deemed and construed to exempt such homestead 
in the manner aforesaid during the time it shall be occupied by 
the widow or minor child or children of any deceased person who 
was, when living, entitled to the benefits of this act." 

Thus the State, in its bountiful protection, says to its citizen : 
*' You may be unfortunate, even blamably improvident, neverthe- 
less the State shall not allow you and yours to be thrown. paupers 
on the world. Your homestead is still left to you, a competency 
at least." 

N. B. — This State law applies to all real estate within the State, 
■without distinction. It makes no difference whether the settler 
holds under Governmont title, railroad title, or any other title, 
his home and eighty acres of land are secure from all law process. 

There are also reserved for the settler, free from all law pro- 
cesses, all his household furniture up to the value of $300, 3 horses, 
or in lieu 1 horse and yoke of oxen, 2 cows, 11 sheep, 3 hogs, 
wagon, harness, and all his farming machinery and implements; 
also a year's Supply of family provisions^or growing crops, and 
fuel, and seed grain not exceeding 50 bushels each'i^of wheat and 
oats, 5 of potatoes, and one of corn, also mechanics' or miners* 
tools, with $400 worth of stock-in-trade, and [the library and 
instruments of professional men. 

This is the beneficent protection which the State throws around 
the poor man's home. 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 

lllllilllli 



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